Wading through the think humidity that weighs down on Williamsburg, there’s sweet relief in looking up. Up at the leaves that provide shade, listening to their rustle as a breeze runs through them; up at the grey cotton ball clouds, set in formation against the iridescent colours of a NYC dusk.

The days of New York summer are hot, humid, and sensuous; they tease with thunderclouds while wrapping you up in a steamy embrace.

(above) Empire State Building seen from East River

(below) a coconut Italian ice to make the humidity more palatable

(below) Williamsburg Bridge joins Brooklyn to Manhattan. 1 World Trade Centre to the right

It’s when life takes on a slower pace. Manhattan wakes up later. On Sundays, the streets are uncomplicated and easy to navigate given the lack of foot and car traffic. This is in large part due to the island’s residents escaping the heat of the concrete in favour of shorelines in far-flung Jersey Shore, Rockaway Beach, or The Hamptons.

Summer – a perfect time to appreciate the city. Starting with breakfast in the West Village, meandering in the quieter and more industrial parts of Soho, then cooling down in my home ‘hood of Williamsburg. This is what Sundays are all about.

Sunday, summery Sunday. My pictorial of New York, today. Enjoy!

Caffe Reggio on MacDougal Street. An institution since 1927 – apparently the first cafe in the US to serve a cappuccino.

In Brooklyn for the 8th year, Renegade Craft Fair (RCF) set up tent by the foodie stalls of Smorgasburg and the trash ‘n treasure finds of Brooklyn Flea this weekend.

Instead of scrolling through beautiful artisan wares on one of my forever favourite websites, etsy.com, I strolled by dozens of stallfronts selling innovative handmade products… live.

Usually held at McCarren Park, this was the first time the RCF was held by the East River. With a front row water facing view of the Manhattan skyline, this *new* location is genius. Over both sun drenched days, the event attracted many summer lovin’ DIY inspired New Yorkers. Such is the appeal of Williamsburg; a dose of collaborative craftiness injects the ‘hood with excellent added-value.

An event I highly recommend, even if it’s simply for inspiration and ‘stallfront shopping,’ RCF weaves its way around the US and UK throughout the summer, and into fall.

The Renegade Craft Fair differs from traditional arts and craft fairs by focusing on DIY and indie-craft culture. Each individual fair is juried by our Chicago-based staff from hundreds of applications to purposefully feature a curated, eclectic array of young and emergent designers producing original and handmade goods in a wide variety of media.

We feature artists creating innovative work using traditional craft methods, but not based on preexisting patterns or products.*

Take note: At the end of this post are some dates for residents, or for fortunate travel hoppers, of LAX, SFO, ORD, and LON – the fair is coming to a location near you.

One belongs to New York instantly; one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years. ~ Thomas Wolfe

I usually associate habits with something I need to break.

Thankfully, documenting my everyday is one less habit to worry about… because I have no intention of breaking it. (Though I do need to work on eating less pastry treats when I stop for a cup of coffee.)

I was thinking about my habit as I walked through Williamsburg today; my little Sony C in hand. Why is it that I find the ordinary so intriguing; that I have to photograph nearly every detail that grabs my attention? I came to the conclusion that a large part of it has to do with loving New York and the neighbourhood in which I live – this city is always alive and evolving.

Another part of it is because I know I won’t live here forever.

Creating a chronological account of days is like looking over a series of the mind’s flashbacks: a smiling chef grilling seafood at the local street fair; a graffitied door covered with posters; seeing a sunburst through a tree’s branches; the panoramic views of Manhattan from across the East River; the bright green leaves of a fig tree against a home of red brick. I don’t want to forget any of it.

As I sit here, having come home from an afternoon out in the sun, a thunderstorm rumbles. The rain is pouring down. The weather seems to change as frequently as the neighbourhood’s street art.

I hope you enjoy Sunday in Williamsburg!

~Deck chairs: East-River side. Looking out over the Williamsburg Bridge and the One World Trade Center Tower, to the right.

Here resides a community of cyclists, surfers, artistic workers…

… and skaters.

A series of paste ups cover erratic graffiti.

A typical street scene: garage storefronts alongside new condos, across the road from row houses.